Berhampur, Jan 21: The villagers inhumanly beat up eight people suspecting them involved in black magic at a village in Ganjam district. Even the victims including two women were forced to eat human excreta as part of harsh punishment for practicing witchcraft.

The incident took place at Olapur village of Chikiti block in Ganjam district on Wednesday. The villagers severely beat them up accusing them of practicing black magic after a girl fell ill continuously. They alleged that the 8 people were responsible for her illness for longtime.

The angry villagers shaved their heads to in a bid to insult them, broke their teeth and forced them to have human excreta.

The families of the victims demanded strong action against the culprits for the torture.